From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter from Hardy Spicer & Co. Ltd. discussing joint performance in dynamometer tests for different engine types.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\4\ scan0079 | |
| Date | 8th July 1938 | |
| 1262. HARDY SPICER & CO. LIMITED. TELEPHONE : BIRCHFIELDS 4504-9. 6 LINES TELEGRAMS & CABLES : AUTOJOINTS, BIRMINGHAM CODE : BENTLEY'S PHRAZE LONDON OFFICE 54-55 THOMAS STREET LONDON. S.E.1 TELEPHONE : HOP 0703 Manufacturers of HARDY SPICER UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND PROPELLER SHAFTS • GENUINE HARDY FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS BRITISH BOUND BROOK OIL-LESS & COMPO OIL-RETAINING BEARINGS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY Registered Office and Works BIRCH ROAD, WITTON BIRMINGHAM·6 ENGLAND GRY{Shadwell Grylls} OUR REF JAD.MW YOUR REF RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}8/MH{M. Huckerby} H'dy{F R Danby} plan return 8th July, 1938. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Grylls Esq. Rolls Royce Limited, D E R B Y. Dear Mr.Grylls, No aspersions were intended. I expressed my nervousness to Dynamometer testing generally. Am now never surprised. We recently had a case of 6-cylinder engine testing using a certain size joint for engines of 14 and 27 HP. A ten 4-cylinder was introduced and the same size joint would not stand up a day against years of the 6-cylinder. The result now is that the 10 HP 4-cylinder tests with a large truck size of joint and the 27 HP size, still on 3 sizes less. You have not told me all about this test but it sounds abnormal in that to get the axle so hot despite water cooling indicates either high speed or overload to get results quickly. I should think you would not get these conditions by using one of your standard engines for the power or the speed. I also read into your previous letter that your own joints although lasting longer, also would not stand up as well as in a normal car. I still think the new type journal would last longer although perhaps it may not go for a long period. To meet your conditions, it may be worth while to use larger joints. Yours sincerely, J.A.Daniell | ||